Together with the company Mine Storage, the municipally owned electricity company Mälarenergi will now put the new production method to the test in up to three mines in Bergslagen. One mine is located in Västmanland, one in southern Dalarna and one in Närke. Conversations with the landowners, and initial permit checks are ongoing.
– If everything goes smoothly, within three years we could have the first plant in operation, says Jan Andhagen, vice president of Mälara Energy.
At Mälarenergi’s facility in Hallstahammar in Västmanland, where SVT meets the project participants, similar technology is already in operation, then with the Kolbäcksån as a power source. It will be the same type of pumps and turbines that will be installed in the mines.
Closed system that should benefit the electricity grid
In the mines, the drop height must be utilized and the water must be passed through a large turbine and pumps must then pump the water up again to be able to repeat the process. It will be a closed system where, for example, you can run the turbine during an expensive part of the day and let the water be pumped up during part of the day when the electricity price is lower. A capacity of 200 megawatt hours per run is currently expected.
It is also seen as a way to increase the operational reliability of the entire electricity grid, where, together with the mines, you have a quick reserve to deploy when needed.
– Electricity is the worst perishable commodity, you have to produce the second it is used and then this is an incredibly fast way to fine-tune, says Jan Andhagen.
Javascript must be enabled to play video
This is how the mining power will work:
